Christopher Luxon can’t catch a break. His prime ministerial house is shabby. His prime ministerial plane is borked. But, ask Toby Manhire, Annabelle Lee-Mather and Ben Thomas, how foreseeable was the blowback to his decision to take the $52k accommodation allowance to stay in his own mortgage-free Wellington apartment, how tin-eared was it to declare, repeatedly, that he was entitled to his entitlements, thank you very much, and the swift talkback-driven U-turn?
It came hot on the heels of a whiplash week in parliament, with legislation to bin the Māori Health Authority, roll back smokefree legislation and unban pseudoephedrine. Is the government stretching the use of urgency to its legitimate limit?
Elsewhere in a new edition of the Spinoff politics podcast Gone By Lunchtime: Warner Brothers Discovery has issued a death warrant for Newshub, all of Three’s news operations and a bunch of other local content. What does it mean for democracy, and how was the response from Melissa Lee and the rest? Plus: A word on Grant Robertson, who is leaving politics.
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Summer reissue: The morning after election night, with Chlöe Swarbrick
Summer reissue: Mervmania
Summer reissue: Politics in Pubs with Simon Bridges
Summer reissue: Emergency Toddcast
The Spinoff presents SUPERPOD 2020
End of year special with Jacinda Ardern
The Golden Handbrake Awards 2020
Lustful frothing as parliament returns
A rummage through Labour's new cabinet
The morning after election night, with Chlöe Swarbrick
Bonus episode: On the road with Alex Braae
The final countdown to Election 2020
Judgement day beckons after the third leaders' debate
The second NZ leaders' debate, assessed
The best and worst of last night’s debates
Welcome to Middelburg, Aotearoa
The Gone By Lunchtime apology special
Late night lockdown politics with the Alert Level Three
The Gone By Lunchtime guide to political edging
Mervmania hits the 2020 election campaign
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